Google releases Android N developer Preview

Letters spell the word "Alphabet" as they are seen on a computer screen with a Google search page in this photo illustration taken in Paris, France, August 11, 2015Reuters

Google has surprised everybody by launching an early preview of its next version of Android OS "Android N". The key features of Android N are Split screen multitasking, better battery management and notifications.

Unlike previous versions where Google releases the Developer preview of the upcoming Mobile OS in Google I/O, which happens in end of May, Google has released Android N quite early allowing developers to build and test their apps before its release to smartphone manufacturers around October.

Head of Android, Hiroshi Lockheimer, said: "It's earlier than ever, it's easier to try and we're expanding the ways for you to give us feedback. We want to hear from you and iterate on the platform with you – that's what makes Android stronger."

According to the sources, the latest Android version lets users switch between apps easily with the help of split screen making multi-tasking easier than ever before. This allows two different apps to run side by side or above one another. Something like the Korean Smartphone manufacturer Samsung had implemented quite some time back, however now Google has baked the same in OS. This feature is really intuitive and helpful for smaller devices however would be really helpful for larger screened devices running on Android OS.

Another major change helps to control battery drain when the screen is turned off. Devices running on Android "Marshmallow," a version released last year, had a battery-saving mode called "Doze" only when they're stationary. While in N Doze will save the battery even in case the device display is turned off. Another feature that we have seen already in Android Wear. This allows users to reply to incoming message notifications without leaving the notification shade.

Google is even giving a $150 discount on the Pixel C to encourage developers to help test Android N on a tablet. Google has specifically stated that it wants developers to get their apps ready for N sooner and that the earlier preview will allow it to hand off the final N release to device makers "this summer." Although Google has not yet named the new OS, however going by the tradition, It will surely be named after a sweet dessert. We think it may be Android Nutella, how about you ?